Strictly’s Shirley Ballas reveals she had her tiny dance shoes custom made for the show

Shirley Ballas wowed viewers of Strictly Come Dancing a few weeks ago when she conjured up a pair of miniature shoes to demonstrate proper footwork to contestant Will Mellor.

Later in that show, she produced a small pair of women’s shoes to show Fleur East a point.

Viewers were divided. One of them wrote, “Did Shirley kill elves under her desk and steal their shoes?” I’m so confused.’

Tiny dancer: Shirley Ballas wowed viewers of Strictly Come Dancing a few weeks ago when she conjured up a pair of miniature shoes to demonstrate proper footwork to Will Mellor

I ran into Shirley this week and can reassure you that no elves were hurt in the making of the show.

She told me, “No, they’re not kids’ shoes — they’re custom made just for me.” I felt it would be a good way to explain things.’

She said she kept them under her desk since the start of the show, only taking them out when she felt they were needed.

Shirley said, ‘No, they’re not kids’ shoes – they’re custom made just for me. I felt it would be a good way to explain things’

So will we see them again? “Oh, maybe!” she says, “I have them with me every week.”

The Saturday episode of Strictly Come Dancing sees the show return to Blackpool for the first time in three years.

Covid restrictions prevented the hit show’s final two series from filming their annual episode at the famed Tower Ballroom.

Since 2013, Blackpool’s ballroom has had an annual slot on the BBC show where the celebs perform under the dazzling lights.

A BBC source said: “After finding out he would have to face the dance-off, Tony spoke to producers and stated that both he and the physio were concerned that re-dancing the jive in the dance-off would further could cause injuries and he had therefore decided that he would withdraw from the competition instead.”

See you soon: A star who will not compete in Blackpool is Tony Adams after he sensationally quit Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night